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Your menstrual cycle phases occur each month when your reproductive system repeats a regular pattern of events, all controlled by hormones. There are four parts, or phases, that repeat. Here’s what you need to know about each.

The Menstrual Phase (Menstruation)

The menstrual phase is the part commonly referred to as “your period.” The official start of your cycle is the first day of your menstrual phase – the first day of your period.

You may be thinking, “Where is this stuff coming from?” Menstrual blood is shed from the lining of your uterus. It goes from your uterus through your cervix, vagina and out through your vaginal opening.

A period usually lasts about three to seven days. It may seem like more, but the average amount of menstrual flow for your entire period is about a quarter of a cup!

The Follicular Phase

This phase is all about your body preparing for pregnancy each month. It starts with your estrogen hormone telling the lining of your uterus to thicken and develop to prepare for a fertilized egg. At the same time, another hormone, known as the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), stimulates your ovarian follicles to grow. Each follicle contains an egg. Usually, one egg will get totally ready for fertilization each month.

Your estrogen levels rise dramatically during the days before ovulation and peak about one day before the next phase starts.

The Ovulation Phase

This surge in estrogen triggers a spike in a third hormone – the luteinizing hormone, or LH. LH is what makes a follicle rupture and release an egg. If you have regular 28-day menstrual cycles, ovulation usually occurs on day 14. However, most women have different menstrual cycle lengths. In general, ovulation happens 11 to 16 days before your upcoming period.

Ovulation is what it’s called when one of the ovaries releases a mature egg. The egg travels out of the ovary, into the nearest fallopian tube and into your uterus. As the egg moves down the fallopian tube over several days, the lining of the uterus continues to grow thicker and thicker.

It takes about three to four days for the egg to travel toward the uterus. From there, an egg waits for about 24 hours in hopes of being fertilized before it starts degenerating.

The Luteal Phase

After ovulation, the luteal phase begins. The empty follicle turns into a corpus luteum. The cells of the corpus luteum produce estrogen and large amounts of progesterone. Progesterone stimulates your uterine lining to prepare for a fertilized egg.

Here’s where two things can happen. If you become pregnant, the egg moves into your uterus and attaches to the lining. If you are not pregnant, the lining of the uterus is shed through the vaginal opening. Your period starts and a new menstrual cycle begins.